Christchurch is a wonderful park and garden filled city situated at the foot of Banks Peninsula on the Canterbury Plains, midway up the East Coast of the South Island of New Zealand.

It has a population of about 320,000 people and was originally established in the early 1850s by a group of English Colonists. The city today still reflects that heritage. It has lovely homes and gardens from that era and the centre of the city with its Cathedral Square could have come right out of England. It even has an electric tramcar system, running restored tramcars of 100 years ago circling from the city centre to the Arts Centre, Museum, Art Gallery and beautiful Hagley Park and back.

Today the city increasingly reflects its Pacific Heritage with people of many nations living within its boundaries. It has sidewalk cafes and wine bars, and restaurants representing many cultures including the Tangata Whenua, the indigenous Maori people.

The Canterbury Museum, which is situated in the centre of Christchurch close to the Arts centre and Hagley Park, has what is reputed to be the best and most comprehensive display of Antarctic artefacts in the world.

Transport around the City Centre is free on the inner city electric shuttle bus.

The Modern Domestic and International Airport is on the north side of the city, only 15 minutes drive from the city centre. Close enough for ease of access but placed so that air traffic does not interfere with the atmosphere in the city.

There are many things to do in Christchurch. Not the least of these are visits to the Antarctic Centre close to the Airport; a Gondola ride to the top of the Port Hills where a magnificent view of the Plains with the Southern Alps in the back ground or a view of the Pacific Ocean and Port of Lyttelton can be obtained; or a visit to the Canterbury Museum. There is also an Airforce Museum where most types of aircraft flown by the RNZAF are displayed in realistic settings.

Christchurch can also be used as a centre for day trips to view the whales and dolphins at Kaikoura, or view the dolphins at Akaroa on Banks Peninsula, or swim in the thermal pools at inland Hanmer Springs in North Canterbury. Of course in winter, skiing and other winter sports are available within 2 hours of Christchurch at Mt Hutt and a number of other nearby ski fields.

'Click' on the names of the Homestays and Farmstays listed on this page to select the accommodation that meets your needs.

Read the other Canterbury Area Pages to gain more information about this fantastic Region.